Greasy roots, dry ends!?!

Oh, the confusion! How do you deal with two completely different issues on one head of hair? Not to fear, in this article we’ll go through some possible causes and a combination of products and strategies you can use to better manage this issue. Let’s dive in!

What causes dry ends and greasy roots? These are two separate issues. Let’s start with dry ends. 

What causes dry ends

Some hair types tend to be drier than others, this could be genetics or your hormones coming into play. Curly hair also tends to be drier than straight air (that’s because it takes sebum longer to travel down curly hair)

Dryness can also be the result of damage caused by tools like hair dryers, curling irons and straighteners or treatments like coloring your hair, relaxers etc.

If you have long hair then remember, the hair towards the end is the oldest hair you have. Hair grows at an average pace of 6 inches per year. Let’s put that in perspective, shoulder length hair that is straight is roughly 14 inches, and curly hair at shoulder length is 16-18 inches. So, the ends of shoulder length hair can be between 2 – 3 years old.

What causes greasy roots?

An excess production of sebum. This excess production could be genetic (people with fine straight hair tend to experience a greasy scalp faster).

Scalp buildup is also a big culprit of greasy roots, we have a detailed article on scalp buildup here

It could also be a condition called seborrheic dermatitis where your scalp feels itchy and inflamed. Seborrheic dermatitis can turn the effected part of your scalp pink and scaly, and produces excess sebum which can also cause dandruff.

How can you manage greasy roots and dry ends.

Here are 6 tips to start incorporating so you can balance out your hair

1. Apply a scalp oil: Oil for your oily scalp!?! Yes, a scalp oil that is formulated to fight against free radicals and give you antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties will help fight the root cause of the excess sebum. Note, however, that we don’t recommend this is you are suffering from eczema or psoriasis, consult a doctor for the best solutions for you.

2. Shampoo your scalp: Focus the shampoo on your scalp. A pro tip is to put shampoo in the palm of your hand, and then, with your finger, take a little bit at time and apply it directly to your scalp. Lather up the shampoo focusing the lather onto your scalp. When you’re rinsing your hair, the shampoo will travel down your hair shaft and that is enough to get it clean. 

3. Exfoliate your scalp: The best way to do this is by using a shampoo brush  it helps to gently loosen up the buildup on your scalp and thoroughly clean your scalp 

4. Conditioner is your friend: Apply it mid-length to your ends. Never to your scalp. If you are someone who must shampoo their hair every day then we would recommend that you apply a bit of conditioner to your hair, shampoo your roots and then apply conditioner again. This will protect the rest of your hair from getting shampooed every day, potentially drying it out.

5. Use a heat protectant: If you are using styling tools like a blow dryer, straightening iron or curling iron, make sure you are adding enough heat protectant to protect your strands. It’s also best if you reduce the usage of straightening and curling irons (i.e. not every day) to keep your hair from drying out.

6. Apply a hair oil to your ends: Just a tiny bit, to keep your ends lubricated. You can apply a hair oil to your ends every day.

Adding these tips into your routine will help balance your hair over time